World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5 to highlight the importance of healthy soil. The day serves as a reminder of the critical role soils play in our ecosystem and the need to protect and conserve this invaluable resource for future generations. It also aims to raise awareness about soil degradation. This natural resource is made up of a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and organisms.

World Soil Day is celebrated globally, with various events and activities to raise awareness about soil conservation and its sustainable management.

Every year, on December 5th, the world comes together to celebrate the selfless efforts of individuals who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global observance that shines a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the globe.

IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTERRING
Volunteer work often goes unnoticed, yet it plays an essential role in shaping societies and improving the lives of individuals.

Whether it’s helping in disaster relief efforts, supporting local educational programs, or contributing to environmental conservation, volunteers are the unsung heroes who step up to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return.

The World Maritime Conference 2024 is scheduled to be held in Chennai from 4th to 6th December. The Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan will be the Guest of Honour. Internationally reputed speakers and panelists will discuss the future of the Global maritime scenario. US, UK, Germany, Spain, Asia Pacific Countries will participate in the discussions. This conference will be conducted in India after 15 years, will discuss various futuristic developments and present challenges in the Maritime World.  The conference will be attended by more than 300 delegates from all over the World.

Singapore contributed the highest Foreign Direct Investment to India in the July-September quarter, with 50 per cent of the inwards investments coming in from the neighbouring country.

FPI inflows to India rose 43 per cent to USD 13.6 billion in the July-September quarter of 2024-25, data made available by DPIIT showed. Over USD 7.5 billion or 50 per cent of the total FDI came from Singapore.

Singapore stands with India, Singapore High Commissioner in India, HC Wong, wrote in an X post, sharing the FDI figures.

The West Bengal cabinet on Monday gave its nod to the proposal of appointing at least one legal advisor to assist the police in every subdivision of the state, a well-placed source said.

He said a notification in this regard would be issued soon.

The cabinet also decided to appoint people to fill up 1,500 vacancies in various departments, he said, adding that recruitment would be done on both contractual and permanent basis.

Of them, 583 contractual junior engineers would be recruited in the Public Health Engineering Department and another 700 people would be appointed in different municipalities, the source added. PTI SCH ACD

India’s Pavan Kampelli on Monday claimed the bronze medal in eFootball, the country’s first-ever podium finish in the event, at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.

On way to the bronze medal, Pavan, popularly known as ‘Mr Tomboy’, also defeated the 2022 eFootball World Finals Winner (Mobile), Asgard Azizi of Team Indonesia, 2-1.

Pavan competed against some of the best eFootball players from across Asia and faced a tough start against eventual winner, TXRO of Team Thailand.

However, he showed remarkable resilience and bounced back by securing hard-fought victories over players from Indonesia, Syria, and Laos -- all with an identical 2-1 margin -- to bag the historic medal.

The University of Oxford has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PRAGATI initiative as a transformative model for governance, urging the global community to learn from India’s innovative approach. In a study titled “From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress,” the university highlighted the platform’s role in revolutionizing project monitoring and resolution in India.

Launched in 2015, PRAGATI—an acronym for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation—has redefined the management of large-scale infrastructure projects and social programs across the nation. The platform combines digital tools, real-time data, drone feeds, and video conferencing to expedite project timelines while ensuring development reaches even the remotest regions.

The report emphasizes PRAGATI’s success in breaking bureaucratic inertia, fostering a “Team India” mindset, and instilling accountability and efficiency across central and state governments. By bringing diverse stakeholders together on a single platform, the initiative has tackled complex challenges such as land acquisition and inter-ministerial coordination, significantly advancing infrastructure development.

The Ayush market has seen exponential growth, increasing from $2.85 billion in 2014 to $ 43.4 billion in 2023, according to Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Naik also highlighted that exports from the sector have doubled, rising from $ 1.09 billion to $ 2.16 billion.

The Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) has undergone a transformative journey over the past decade, positioning India as a global leader in traditional medicine, Naik said.

Since its establishment in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry has spearheaded significant advancements in public health, education, research, and economic development, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), he added.

The United States on Monday announced a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine that features a second tranche of landmines as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons.

US President Joe Biden's administration is working against the clock to provide billions of dollars in aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, after which future assistance for Ukraine will be in doubt.

Less than two months before Trump is set to be sworn in, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the package was part of efforts "to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression."

It includes anti-personnel landmines, ammunition for HIMARS precision rocket launchers, Stinger missiles, counter-drone systems, anti-armor weapons and artillery ammunition, Blinken said in a statement.

Justice Murdu Nirupa Bindushini Fernando was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today.

She becomes the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and the second woman to hold this position. Justice Fernando succeeds Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, who recently retired.

Justice Fernando, who joined the Attorney General’s Department in 1985, has held several key positions, including Solicitor General in 1997 and Additional Solicitor General in 2014. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in March 2018 and brings over 30 years of experience as a legal professional.

A past pupil of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, she earned her law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo.